April 2006

I bought the domain for BostonBlogs.com back in 2002 2001 after being inspired by pals who started up the Dallas Fort Worth blogger website at DFWBlogs.com. Seemed like we could do something like that in Boston: connect to each other’s websites, get together for a social outing now and again, etc.

Fast forward to 2006 and the site is now taking on a whole new life thanks in no small part to Adam Gaffin. Part of his Universal Hub website is joining forces with the Boston Blogs website to create a new hub for:

• Boston Blog Directory
• Boston Blog News
• Boston Blogs Network
• Events (share expertise about podcasting, video blogging, etc.)

So, what about the Boston Blogs Network? The idea is to gather a subset of bloggers from the directory who write a lot about Boston (though not exclusively). We’ve set up an advertising network for advertisers who’d like to promote their product or service to people who read Boston area blogs. It’s a new, local option. We’re starting off with text ads and there will be other options later.

The initial group of network participants include the following Boston area bloggers:

Ryan Gantz is helping us with a website makeover so you’ll see a snazzier design sometime in the next few months.

For more information about the project, Adam posted information about the new Boston Blogs.com over on Universal Hub a few days ago.

It’s my cohort Michael’s birthday today. Subscribe to his website’s RSS feed and dig into BunkoSquad including his movie reviews.

Here are a few of my favorites from his weblog during the past year:

We’re Finished

For 3

I Love My Bookstore

Annie Hall movie review

Steve Garfield recorded this short video at the Boston Marathon on Monday featuring Bob Lobel from Channel 4 News and baby Max.

*laughter while baby Max cries*

Bob Lobel: “OK. I don’t know if we’re going to get him on television. Why don’t you bring him over here. You know what, sir, bring him over here.”

Peace : Originally uploaded by tjmcconnell.

Elvis even made an appearance running the Boston Marathon on Monday. There are a bunch of excellent photos from the marathon in the Exploit Boston event photo group at flickr and a whole bunch more via the bostonmarathon tag.

One of my favorite bands throughout high school and college just got back together for a second time. Toad the Wet Sprocket will be playing a bunch of shows with Big Head Todd and the Monsters throughout July and August. The tour includes two stops in Massachusetts: Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis on July 14th and the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset on July 15th.

I’m trying out an experiment to see if some of the 62 people who are part of Exploit Boston’s event photo group at Flickr will be able to meet up on Monday, April 17th for a photo walkabout during the Boston Marathon. The tentative plan is to meet up at 12noon at the big water fountain outside the Park Street T Station on Tremont Street. If you’d like to join us with your camera, post a comment here, send me an email, post a comment to the conversation thread at flickr or just show up. We’ll probably linger there for about 15 minutes and then head out for a meandering photo excursion.

I’ll post an update about the final meeting time and location on Sunday.

Proof, as captured in Harvard Square earlier today.